Control Apparatus Dual Communication External Device Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for efficiently searching and utilizing network devices with specific functions, as users often are unaware of the presence of external devices that can enhance the functionality of their electronic devices, such as smartphones, which lack seamless integration with external devices for expanded functionality.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and system that includes built-in functions and communication units to detect and communicate with external devices, allowing users to select and utilize external functions through icon displays and dual communication protocols, enabling seamless integration and expansion of device capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user manually searches for network devices with specific functions, then the user can find external devices, but the process requires additional operations and is not seamless
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting external devices and pre-preparing function selection interfaces before the user initiates a search. The system automatically scans the network environment, identifies available external devices with specific functions, and prepares their information for immediate display, eliminating the need for users to manually search and reducing both operational steps and time required.
2Extent of automation
If the control apparatus proactively detects and presents external devices, then device discovery is automated, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus achieves automation through multi-functional integration where a single control unit performs both manual search operations and automatic device detection. The same display interface serves both to show manually selected devices and to present automatically detected external devices. This universal approach allows the system to provide automated device discovery without requiring separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control apparatus integrates multiple communication units for different protocols, then compatibility with various external devices is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus merges multiple communication units with different communication protocols into a single integrated communication system. Rather than implementing separate independent communication modules for each protocol, the system combines them into a unified architecture that can selectively activate appropriate protocols based on the target external device. This merging approach maintains broad compatibility while avoiding the complexity of fully independent parallel communication systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus has one or more built-in functions that are selectively usable. The control apparatus includes a first communication unit conducting a first communication and a second communication unit conducting a second communication, a built-in function unit configured to execute the built-in function, and at least one control circuit. The control circuit determines which of the built-in functions is selected, determines whether there is an external device to execute an external function related to the selected built-in function based on the first communication, controls an icon display to present to a user that the selected built-in function is also executable by the external device, and causes the second communication unit to communicate with the external device through a second communication to execute the external function when the external device is selected in accordance with the icon display.